Carvedilol vs endoscopic variceal ligation for primary and secondary prevention of variceal bleeding: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 2 Characteristic of included studies

Ref.	History of variceal bleeding	Treatment groups	Age (mean ± SD, yr)		n	Dosage / method	Follow up(mo)
Tripathi et al[9]	No	Carvedilol		54.2 ± 9.4	77	6.25 mg (starting dose) daily, with target dose of 12.5 mg daily	24
		EVL		54.5 ±11.1	75	Every two weeks until eradication	24
Shah et al[10]	No	Carvedilol		48.3 ± 11.3	82	6.25 mg daily, with target dose of 6.25 mg twice a day	up to 24
		EVL		47.2 ± 13.2	86	Every three weeks until eradication	up to 24
Khan et al[12]	No	Carvedilol		52.1 ± 14.7	125	12.5 mg daily	6
		EVL		54.1±14.3	125	Not mentioned	6
Abd ElRahim et al[11]	No	Carvedilol		51.2 ± 11.0	84	starting dosage of 6.25 mg daily, titrated up every 4 days to reach up to 12.5–50 mg	up to 12
		EVL		50.6 ± 5.9	88	Every two weeks until eradication	up to 12
Smith et al[15]	Yes	Carvedilol		51 ± 10.9	32	6.25 mg daily, with target dose 12.5 of mg daily	29
		EVL		50 ± 13.0	31	Not mentioned	29
Stanley et al[14]	Yes	Carvedilol		51.4 ± 10.8	33	6.25 mg daily, with target dose 12.5 of mg daily	up to 60
		EVL		49.6 ± 12.87	31	Every two weeks until eradication	up to 60
Kumar et al[13]	Yes	Carvedilol		44.1 ± 8.5 (overall)	47	Not mentioned	11.1 - 21.7
		EVL		44.1 ± 8.5 (overall)	56	Not mentioned	11.1 - 21.7

EVL: Endoscopic variceal ligation.